Snowplow



E. PITCHER June 21, 1932.

SNOWPLOW Filed March 23. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 @1026) 2176661 2? MM w E. PITCHER June 21, 1932.

SNOWPLOW I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L n z Filed March 23, 1928 Wm M ZIJ

Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES DAKOTA PATENT OFFICE ELMEB PITCHER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY ASSIGNMENTS,

TO M. T. NAG-LE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, J. R. SGHOFFMAN, OF ST. JAMES, 'MINNE- SOTA, CHARLES H. MILLER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ELMER PITCHER, OF MIN NE- APOLIS, MINNESOTA J. L. IVIOORE, OF WIMBLEDON, NORTH DAKOTA,- ALBERT RUNNING, OF ST. J'A1VIES, MINNESOTA, AND IVIYLES HENDERSON, OFCROSBY, NORTH SNOWPLOW Application filed March 23, 1928. Serial No. 264,188.

My present invention has for its object to provide a highly efiicient snow plow, by the use of which snow may be very quickly and easily removed from city and village streets and highways with the least possible interference with traffic and at a comparatively small cost. a a .v

' To the above end, generally stated,the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claim. 1.

Snow plows now generally used, scrape or push snow from a roadbed to the sides thereof and the width to which the roadbed can thus be cleared of 7 snow is limited and at the same time the snow is banked at the sides of the roadbed, which snow soon freezes and turns to ice and if removed, picks and shovels must be used. These banks of snow interfere with the clearing of the roadbed during succeeding snows and as such snows are scraped or pushed to the sides of the roadbed the banks increase in Width, thus narrowing up the roadbed to such an extent as to interfere with traffic. Furthermore, these banks of snow prevent natural drainagefof the roadbed with a result that during thaws and rains, water often accumulates on the roadbed to such an extent as to interfere with trafiic' and also cause deep mud on dirt or gravel-surfaced roadbeds and thereby causes the same to disintegrate during use.

By the use of my improved snow plow, a roadbed may be cleared of snow its full width without building up banks at the sides thereof or interfering with the natural drainage. This clearing of a dirt or gravel roadbed to its full width particularly after a heavy snow is highly important in order to permit the ground to freeze for the reason thatfrost in the ground prevents the roadbed from disintegrating during thaws and rains particularly when traffic is heavy and the roadbed is used by busses, trucks or other heavy vehicles.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters "indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

: discharge chutes.

the width of said main frame.

Fig. 1 is a. plan view of the improved snow plow; Y r

Fig. 2 is a right sideelevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1

with some parts removed and other parts shown in horizontal section;

V Fig.- 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view partly in right side elevation and partly in longitudinal central section showing the, front end portion ofthe machine; a

Fig. '5 is a fragmentary detail View principally' in section taken on the line 55 of substantially on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1 and further illustrating deflectinghoods for the Theimproved snow plow, as shown, includes a self-propelled truck in the form of a tractor having a long main frame 11 supported on a pair of rear traction wheels 12 and a pair of front steering wheels 13. An internal combustion engine 14 for propelling the machine is mounted on the rearend portion of the frame 11 with suitable driving connections to the traction wheels 12, but for the purpose of this .case, it is not thought necessary to illustrate the same. Also mount ed on the frame 11 at the rear of the engine 14: is a cab 15 for the operator of the machine.

Steering mechanism for the front wheels 13 is indicated as anentirety by the numeral 16 with the exception of a steering wheel 17- within the cab 15. Rigidly secured to the front end portion of the main frame 11 is a supplemental frame. 18 which materially increases Overlying and extending forward of the main frame 11 and supplemental frame 18 isa rearwardly inclined deck 19 preferably made of wood to prevent snow from sticking theregioo to. This deck 19 is supported on a pair of secured to the side members of the"supple'-'" mental frame 18 and support the shaft 22 materially abovesaid supplemental frame.

with freedom for vertical swinging movement longitudinally of the machine. A long transverse shaft 25 which extends parallel to the shaft 22 is journaled in the front or lower end portions of the bars 2 0 and 2-1.- Longitudinally extensible braces limit the rearward movementof the lower 'e'ndo'f the de ck l9' toward the machine and each thereof comprises a. tubular member 26,'pivoted;'a't 27' toth'e' supplemental frame, and 'a rod 28 'teles'co'ped therein'and pivoted 'o'n'the shaft 25. p

Normally, the brace rods 28 "engage the inner ends of the tubular brace members 26 as stops to limit the movement of the lower or front end of the deck 19 toward the machine and afiord a rigid support therefor.

'A- rearwardly inclined metal blade 29 extends transversely of the machine at'the lower end of the deck19 and has a relatively sharp lower cutting "edge. This blade 29 is secured to a pair of runners 30, which, in turn, are rigidly secured to the lower endsf'of the bars20. These runners scare provided with road-engaging shoes 31, the forward ends of which are rigidly secured thereto. Said shoes 31 are also intermediately-secured to the runners by longitudinally adjustable posts 32. These posts 32 may take various different forms, for instance, they may have right and left-hand threaded engagementwith the runners 39 and shoes 31. By longitudinally ad- "justing thep'osts 32, the shoes 31"may 'be'adji 'st'ed to raise or lower the'cuttinged'ge of jthe blade'29 in respectto a roadbed. Said shoes have "sufficient "flexibility to permit fispringing movement thereof at their front ends during the adjustment of the posts32. J Byadjusting the shoes31, the' cu tter blade 29 may be set different distances above the roadfbed s'o as 'to scrape substantially all or the "shower ice therefrom or leave 'sufiicientsnow "on the roadbed forbob sleds and sleighs.

f As previously stated, the deck 19 at its 'upperjend is pivoted to the shaft 22 for verticalswinging movement and'i ts lower end is "heldby couriterbaltmcing devices, "each of :whichcomprises" a lever. 33,"in" the form'of a -bell crankhaving along arm and a short arm, "and*a" coiled spring '34. The levers 33 are tO -p'ivoted at their elbows to 'the 'supplemental frame 18 and their long arms extendih'oriz'on- "'t'ally forward and are connected to the deck *throu'gh longitudinal slots 38in said arms. The'short'armsof the 'lefvers" 33 extend upof forwardly'lpro-j ecting lifting levers 37 rig- -19'is acombined pick upmnd elevator combars s'et vertically edg'e'wise perpendicular to said-belts and rigidly secured to'certain of edges of the combinedfipick-up and: elevator driven at the'pro er'isped: from an internal ward and one end of the springs 34 are attached thereto and the other ends of said springs are anchored to the rear legs24. The tension of the "springs '34'is such that normally the brace rods'28 engage the inner ends of 7 'thetubular brace members 26 as stops but hold the deck 19 so that very little power is I required 'to lift the front end thereof and The bars 20and21 are pivoted on the shaft '22 at their rearlends and support the deck 19.

raise the cutter blade 29 and at which time the rods 28 move outward in respect to the tubularbracemembers 26 in which they are mounted.

To lift the front end of the deck 19 and hold the same raised, there is provided a pair idly secured to a transverse rock shaft 38 mounted in hearings in {the*m'ain frame 11.

These levers 37 have 'fattheir free ends fixed studs3'9 which extend under and engage the lower longitudinal edges ofthe long armsof th'elev'ers Theri'ght-ha nd lifting-lever 37 is-provided with an "upstanding crank-acting extension 40 to which the front end of along operating rod 41"is'pivotally attached. The rear or other 'end' oftheoperati'ng rod-tlis pivotedto a latch'l'ever-42Wvithin the cab 15 and co-operating with-said "lever is a latch segment 43 for holding said "lever "where set. V

Obviously, by 'd'rawing'rearward on the latch lever42, the levers 37 maybe operated by the conne ctio'ns" j ust' described to lift the long arms of the levers 33 and thereby raise theforward end of the 'deck 19. Itmay'be here stated that the rock shaft '38forms the pivot onwhic'h the levers 33 -aremou ntedand that the bar '21 forms" a brace between" the shafts 22; and 25.

Mounted to travel upi'var dly over'the' de'ck the form of sprocket i1 chains-which run over sprocket wheels -45 on the shafts 22 and 25,

and slats or bladesi 46 in'the f'o'rm of metal the links thereof. The-- upwardly moving sections of the combined pic'k-up and: elevator travelupwardbnthempper face (if the deck 19 and the "downwardly lmoving :se'ctions thereof pass under said deck.

I Outwardly divergin'g side-boarded? are-securedto the deck19' at the outer longitudinal and it-is important to -note that-during the return movement of the-combined pick-up the weight of the snow until they: assume a v substantiallyv perpendicular. position toithe bars 20. by' headed studs 35which'extend deck 19' and; are supported thereby.

v The "combined pick-up and elevator-.-.is

combustion engine mounted on the main frame 11 just forward of the tractor engine 14 and indicated as an entirety by the numeral 48, with the exception of a sprocket wheel 49 on its crank shaft. The driving connections from the engine 48 to the shaft 22 from which the combined pick-up and elevator is operated include a long sprocket chain 50 which runs over the sprocket wheel 49 and a relatively small sprocket wheel 51 mounted on a shaft 52 jo-urnaled in a bearing 53 on the main frame 11. Said connections further include a sprocket chain 54 which runs over a relatively small sprocket wheel 55 on the shaft 52 and a relatively large sprocket wheel 56 on the shaft 22.

From the above description it is evident that the cutter blade 29 will direct snow onto the deck 19 with a shovel action and its sharp lower edge will cut ice or packed or frozen snow. Snow directed onto the deck 19 by the cutter blade 29 is carried upward thereon by the slats or blades 46 and precipitated from the raised rear end of said deck into the open top of the fan 57 having a closed bottom.

The fan 57 is rigidly secured to the upper end of a short shaft 58. This shaft 58 is journaled in bearings in a gear housing 59 in a slightly forwardly inclined position so that the fan 57 rotates in a plane that is inclined in the same direction as the deck 19 but at a much less degree. Said fan 57 is mounted in an open top fan housing 60 which in turn is mounted on the gear housing 59 and rigidly secured thereto. The fan housing 60 is further supported and rigidly held by a rearwardly extended arm 61 on the gear housing 59. It is important to note that snow from the deck 19 will be precipitated from the deck 19 into the fan 57 through its open top rearward of the shaft 58 and onto the closed bottom of said fan where it is held to be discharged, as will presently appear.

A. discharge chute 62 leads from the fan housing 60 at each side of the machine in a slightly rearwardly and upwardly inclined position. These discharge chutes 62 are located rearward of the axis of the fan 57 and extend substantially in radial lines projected from the axis of the fan 57 so that when the blades of the fan are aligned with saiddischarge chutes, they let go of the snow which is discharged outward through the chutes 62 in a direct line with said blades.

A. gathering plate 63 extends from one discharge chute 62 to the other at the rear of the fan housing 60 and to a height considerably above the rear end of the deck 19 to gather snow precipitated from the deck 19 and direct the same into the open top of the fan 57. For each discharge chute 62 is a gate 64 hinged at the bottom of said chute for swinging movement from an upright operative position to an inoperative position and in which it projects outwardly on the bottom of said chute. The gates 64 are alternately opened andclosed bymeans of a hand wheel 65 in the cab 15. This hand wheel 65 is secured to the rear end of an operating rod 66 journaled in a bearing inthe front wall of the cab 15 andina bearing 67 on the main frame 11. On the front end of the operating rod 66 is acrank arm 68 connected bya link 69 to a crosstie rod 70 which connects a pair of depending arms 71 on the gates 64, as best shown in Fig. 10. 1

. The fan 57 is driven in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1 from the'shaft 52 which projects into the gear housing 59. In addition to the bearing 53 the shaft 52 is also journaled in a bearing on the gear housing 59 and has on its inner end a bevel pinion 72 which meshesfwith a bevel gear 73 on the fan shaft "58." i I Normally, snow is discharged from the fan 57 through the right-hand chute 62, but in case of a strong wind or when passing by a farm house or other building or a cross-road the snow may be discharged through the lefthand chute 62. Snow. when discharged through the right-hand chute 62 is carried a very-short distance by the fan 57 but when discharged through the left-hand chute 62 it must be carried a much longer "distanc'e by said fan. The upper longitudinal-edge portions of the blades of the fan 57 are curved forwardly in the direction of the rotation of said fan and produce a suction which draws the snow thereagainstunder the rotation of the fan 57 and holds the snow where the same is'thrown from the blades of said fan longitudinally thereof through the right-hand discharge chute 62. 7 i

- WVhen snow is discharged through the lefthand chute 62 sufficient pressure is' produced thereon in the housing 60 by the fan 57to cause itsv discharge through said left-hand chute 62. I

At the outer end of each discharge chute 62 is a deflecting hood '7 4. These deflecting hoods 74 are hinged to the upper outer end portions of the chutes 62 and are curved outwardly and downwardly therefrom and intermediately connected by longitudinally extensible braces .7 5 to the bottoms of said discharge chutes. pair of threaded rods connected by a turn buckle 76 and pivoted the one to the respective hood 74 and the other to the respective discharge chute 62. The deflecting hoods 74 are used only when the machine is operating on a village. or city street where it is desirable to carry the snow directly downward and deposit-the same at the curb or gutter. When the machine is operating on a highway, the deflecting hoods 74 are removed so that the snow will be discharged at a considerable distance from the highway.

On the upper face of the deck 19, are metal 91-307 Each'brace comprises a wearing strips 77 for the combined pick-up and elevator. The operation of the above described machine may be briefly described as follows:

The tractor and the combinedpick-up and elevator are independently operated by the respective engines 14 and 48 thus permitting said combined pick-up and elevator to be operated at a constant speed depending on the amount of snow the machine has to handle.

During the forward travel of the machine, the combined pick-up and elevator is fed obliquely into the snow by the tractor and the blade 29 picks up the snow on thesurface 15 of the roadbed, and cuts any ice or frozen snow inthe path thereof and delivers the snow onto the deck 19. The snow carried upward .on the deck 19 by the combined pick-up and elevator is precipitated into the fan 57 and is discharged thereby through one of the chutes 62. The force with which the snow is discharged'through either one of the chutes 62 is suflicient to carry the same well outward of the roadbed so as not to form a bank at the 2 side thereof. By picking up the snow from the roadbed and delivering the same to one side thereof,'the roadbed may be cleared to any desired width and without interfering with the natural drainage.

at What I claim is:

In a machine of the class described, the combination with a truck, of a forwardly inclined deck mounted to swing about a horizontal axis, a scraper blade at the receiving end of said deck, a counterbalancing device for said deck, a'lifting device for swinging said deck about said horizontal axis to raise the scraper blade, and a brace normal-1y holding said deck with the scraper blade in an 40 operative position "with freedom for lifting movement;

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature.

ELMER PITCHER. 

